Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-09-23
WHY,

WHY,
From A Business Point, Should the Far
mer, Especially, Vote for Prohibition.
The farmer, as rule is an industri-
Gus, law abiding citizen, seldom found
in political rings or doubtful specula-
tions, open to conviction on a moral
question, and is usually on the side of
right. He is not however given as
much to the question of political econo-
my and finance as his interests often
demand and his heart, often better than
his head is sometimes, through the
specious reasoning of superior minded
persons, led to believe that the exist
ence Of the saloons is necessity to
business. This is a mistake, and the
only thing in favor of the assumed po-
sition is that business and saloons have
so long stood side by side.
There are plenty of facts, and recent
ones, too, showing that where prohibit
ton prevails, increased business pros
perity is sure to follow. The prohibi-
ton Governor Martin of Kansas, lately
spoke words on this point when he said
"Kansas was never so prosperous. In
1880 her assessed property was worth
over $16OoOOO0; now over s5270, 100000"
This prosperity he assures us, is not
confined to the cities; he continued Gin
1880, 8,886,Oe0 acres were in crops, this
year, 100000, or nearly double; in 1880
the farm products we're worth .$S4521,-
600; in 1886 they were worth 264 mil
lions," or more than three times the
amount of 1880. "In 1880 the state tax
was 515 mills; this year AZ. This "he
declares. ought to convince every lover
of personal liberty, that prohibition
bankrupts no city or state" He tells us
plainly how it works when he says:
"Crime has decreased in centres where
the prohibitory law is best enforced;
the heavy dockets of criminals are
growing less and court and sheriff fees
are decreasing everywhere. Hundreds
of thousands Of dollars that were for.
merly wasted in the saloons, are now
expended in feeding and clothing and
housing the people" Summing up the
results Of SIX years of prohibition, he
says: "The most wonderful eve of pros
perity, of material, moral and: intellect.
ual development Of growth IN country
cities and towns, ever witnessed on the
| American continent, has been illustrat-
ed in Kansas during the six years since
the temperance amendment to our con-
stitution was adopted, and especially
during the past two years, the period OF
its most energetic and complete en-
forcement. e
Our neighbor, Iowa, through Judge
Harvey, one Of her leading jurists, is
no less emphatic. He says of his dis
trlct that liz counties where the prohib-
ition law has been the most rigidly en-
forced, there has been the least crime
and that during the last year it has
been no uncommon thing for the grand
jury to adjourn without the finding OF
an indictment. Judge Ruddick gives
still better report from his district
The sheriff of Polk county, the capitol
county of the state, says prohibition
is running my business" nor is he the
only ruined sheriff, for during the past
wear there were fifty-ive counties in
Iowa without single occupant TOR
their jalls during the twelve months
Gov. Larrabee seconds these reports
when he says: prohibition is enforced
as well as any state law, that the pub
lie peace IS far greater than ever. and
that court and Jail expenses are de-
creased in just proportion"
Atlanta, Georgia, comes telling Us,
that Notwithstanding the fears OF
financial injury to the city, the TAX
commissioners recently decreased the
tax rate from four to three cents On
the dollar. ~. -
t'itchhnrg Mass.; sitter one year 81